I am going to admit that I am not the best at taking care of Toby! I don't brush his teeth, I don't bathe him as often as I should, I rarely get his nails clipped, I don't take him to get his daily exercise (hence the weight gain), etc. I love Toby and I do need to take care of him better but after Tuesday I felt like the worst pet owner!

Bear made an appt for Toby at the vet because he had really BAD breath and just thought we could take him in to get his teeth cleaned. That was not all! He had to go under anesthesia because there were more than likely going to have to pull a tooth which I was OK with because I have never had his teeth looked at. Well at 1pm the vets office calls me and tells me that Toby is doing just fine and waking up from the anesthesia and I breath a sigh of relief and then she tells me that he had to get 4 teeth pulled! I was stunned that he had to have that many teeth pulled. They said that his 4 bottom teeth were really bad and that were abscessed and that the infection was starting to get into his jaw. How horrible am I?!! Lesson learned is that I am going to start brushing his little teeth so he doesn't have to go through this again.

He must not feel any pain or something because he is running and jumping everywhere and even eating his hard dog food again! All I know is that when I go to the dentist my recovery isn't that fast but how I wish it was!

the best part is that he feels better and no more bad breath!!

Happenings

This is the only picture I have of me and Bear since Christmas! How sad! Well nothing to exciting has been going on so I just decided that since I use this as my journal I will write little tid bits of what has been going on in January so far....

*Bear passed his written exam for the Peoria Fire Dept and next will do his oral boards in June

*Bear has an interview with Buckeye Fire Dept on Feb 2nd

*We participated in a couples bunko and it was so much fun!

*We were able to go to the Temple with my family and do services for our family members that have passed on...

*We went to a dance show that one of our good friends put on. I have never been to a dance show and it was so much fun! All I can say is that I wish I could dance!

*Made some "new year resolutions"....things that I want to change about myself and ways that I can better myself.

*Made an appt with the doctor for March to see what we need to do next with the whole baby stuff....

Since my brother came home from his mission on Dec 22 we had a special Christmas lunch/dinner for him! We had really yummy food, more family time, and my dad and brother Joey's entertainment! Fun day!

The next day we left for Pine! Bear's really good friend has a cabin up there and we were able to go up there for a few days and relax! His friends went to which was a lot of fun! It was really snowy up there so we were able to play in the snow for a little bit!

we got stuck in the snow...

Better late than never

I am just getting around to posting about our Christmas. Every year we spend Christmas Eve with my dads side of the family. [There are about 25 of us] We eat, sing songs, read Christmas Scriptures, and end the night reading The night before Christmas. After we read the Night Before Christmas that is when all the kids get to open their gifts! When the kids are done with their gifts, its the adults turn and we do a gift exchange. That's always the fun part of the night! It starts to get entertaining when people start stealing gifts from each other and "threatening" people to not take the gift they got...

Becca, Me, Elaine, Joey

Me and Bear

I love my family!!

After we are done at our grandparents house we head over to my parents house. We open our gifts at midnight at home! Its my moms tradition from when she was growing up in Chile and kept the tradition going with us and we have enjoyed it ever since! We got to my parents at 10:00 pm and of course had to wait until midnight so to make the time go by we watched The Dark Night. While we were watching the Dark Night we started hearing people singing at our front door and knocking on the door! At first we were kind of freaked out because it was 11:45 pm and didn't know who would come over that late on Christmas Eve so when we opened the door to our surprise it was....

Santa dropped by for a quick visit right before we opened his presents :]

We had a very simple Christmas and I really enjoyed it! I love spending time with my family and reflecting on the real meaning of Christmas.

He is Home!

On Monday, December 22 our brother came home from his mission. He served in Oaxaca Mexico for 2 years! He loved it there and the people there had a big impact on him! He had some fun and interesting stories to tell and you could tell that he loved what he was doing!

It was so fun waiting and watching for him walk down the hall! The antciaptaion was felt by all! My mom had the best reaction! After we saw her, me and my sisters couldn't help but cry! He had a pretty big group waiting for him there and it was good to have them there and to see all who supported him! We sure are glad to have him back!

Driving to the airport!

Here he is walking from the checkpoint with my mom!

Giving hugs to everyone!

Everyone that came and the big sign we made!

The Bingham Family all together again :]

Wedding

This past weekend Bear's youngest brother got married! It was a long day but it was also an exciting day! This is the first temple wedding I have been to and it was really neat! We were gone from 8 am-10:30 pm! The wedding was at 9:15 and we left the Temple at 11:30 and then the luncheon was at noon and we left there at 3 pm and the reception was not until 7 pm so we had to do something to pass the time since we had 4 hours of nothing to do! So we went to the movies with Bears aunt and their 3 kids. We went and saw 4 Christmases and it was a pretty good movie!

And then it was off to the reception! It was fun seeing people that we haven't seen in a few years as well! Bears oldest brother and his family came and we haven't seen them since last Christmas so it was exciting seeing them and finally getting to see our neice and nephews! I really like our new sister-in-law and I am excited to get to know her better! Congrats Chris and Lisa!!

All the brothers together! Nick, Bear, Chris(Groom), Lisa(Bride), and Chris

Me and Bear with the newlyweds :]

Graduation

Last night was Bear's graduation from the fire academy. It was a nice ceremony and Iam so proud of him! They gave out a couple of awards and I am proud to say that Bear received one of them! He received the Top Rung award for academic and skills achievement. I know I have I said this before but he worked so hard and he gave all he got to the academy and I am glad it payed off and that he was recognized for it.

Today was his first Saturday since January 2008 that he didn't have class and it was very nice to have him here.....to celebrate we slept in and took about 3 naps during the day! We don't have kids yet so we have to enjoy while we have the time right :]

Here we are waiting for the graduation to start! I am so greatful that he had a lot of people there from my family and his to support him!

Here is Bear getting his plaque for his award....He had to give a little speech afterwards!

With his plaque and his helmet he used during the academy....

I didnt get a chance to get a picture of us after his graduation so this is as good as it got...

Here is his brother and fiance and his other "brother and sister"....when Bear was little his mom and dad did foster care and they fostered the boy in the black shirt and his twin brother until they were about 1 years old and then they got adopted. When they got adopted they kept in touch with the family and have been part of the family ever since! We go to their family events and they also come to ours! I think its such a neat story and fun how they have been in touch throughout the years.

Congrats Bear!

All Done!

This past Saturday was Bears last day at the Fire Academy! For me it was bittersweet! I am glad he is done because now I will be able to see him more and spend more time with him and Iam sad at the same time because I looked forward to going out to Buckeye every Saturday and watching him! And it was fun hanging out with the mom's and GF's of the other guys! I don't know what Iam going to do with my Saturdays...Most likely it will be cleaning :] I am so proud of Bear and all the hard work he put into it! He was working his usual 50 hours a week plus the 30 hours for the academy a week! I don't know how he did it but I sure am a proud wife! Tonight is his last test and then graduation on Friday!